REMARKS: 2 AM (18 GMT) 14 DECEMBER POSITION: 17.4N 112.1E.^THE FINGER OF THE SUBTROPICAL RIDGE THAT HAD BUILT TO THE NORTHOF TY UTOR HAS BEEN WEAKENED BY A SERIES OF SHORTWAVE TROUGHS THATCONTINUE TO TRAVERSE NORTH OF THE SYSTEM. CONTINUED SLOWING OF THESYSTEM IS FORECAST AS THE SYSTEM TRACKS IN A WEAK STEERING ENVIRON-MENT WITHIN THE WEAKNESS IN THE RIDGE. AS THE SYSTEM WEAKENS, STEER-ING WILL SWITCH FROM THE MID-LEVEL SOUTHEASTERLIES TO LOW LEVELNORTHEASTERLIES, WHICH WILL RESULT IN A WEST-SOUTHWESTWARD TRACKAFTER 36 HOURS...(more info)

* - Based on PAGASA's Philippine Storm Warning Signals, # 4 being the highest. Red letters indicate new areas being hoisted. For more explanations on these signals, visit: http://www.typhoon2000.ph/signals.htm

** - Based on the Tropical Cyclone's Wave Height near its center.__________________________________________________________________________________________>> To know the meteorological terminologies and acronyms used on this update visit the ff: